Last year, the state's bicycle lobby came out of Annapolis twith the political equivalent of two punctured tires. The bills of most interest to them were quashed in committee amid a tide of anti-bike sentiment.
This year has been a complete reversal. On Saturday, the House passed the Senate bill requiring a 3-foot buffer area between motor vehicles and bicycles. It's on its way to the governor.
Tonight another bicycle-friendly bill is coming to the House floor for final passage -- this one freeing bicyclists to use their discretion on when to stay in the shoulder and when to use the roadway. Adccording to Del. Al Carr, that conforms Maryland law to that in 44 other states.